BHIM app users wait for cashbacks may end this Independence Day
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BENGALURU: This Independence Day, the government will offer higher cashbacks if consumers opt for digital transactions using the Bhim app. Operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Bhim app works on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The Prime Minister had unveiled Bhim in December, after demonetisation, to boost digital payments.

NPCI MD & CEO A.P Hota told TOI the proposed approval of increased cashback incentives by the government for Bhim usage is expected to come into effect by August 15.This also coincides with the planned rollout of a new version of Bhim. "We have communicated to the government that the cashback incentives need to be increased so that more people will start using it. We are waiting for the approval from the government which is expected by August 15," Hota said. At present, these cashbacks are between Rs 10 and Rs 25.

BHIM-Aadhaar platform launched: 10 things to know

BHIM-Aadhaar platform launched: 10 things to know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile application. This enables Indian citizens to make digital payments using their biometric data such as their thumb imprint on a merchant's biometric-enabled device. Here's all you need to know about this new BHIM-Aadhaar platform.

How BHIM-Aadhaar Pay works

A merchant needs to download the BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app on his smartphone, connect the app to his bank account and link the phone to a biometric scan machine. To make payment, the customer just has to give his fingerprint. The customer must have an Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Your fingerprint is your password

Users with Aadhaar-linked to their bank accounts can make payments by authenticating the transaction via their fingerprint. The app uses biometric scans as passwords. This means that users can use their fingerprint or biometric data to validate a transaction. The merchants get paid through the user's bank accounts.

No transaction fee (or MDR) for merchants

With BHIM Aadhaar platform, government has also done away with merchant discount rate (MDR) or transaction fee charged on debit card payments. MDR is the commission paid by the merchant to the acquiring bank for every transaction done on the Point of Sale (PoS) machine installed by the bank. A large portion of the MDR earned by the bank goes into paying interchange fees for the card issuing bank. The remaining part is paid to service providers such as Visa, MasterCard or National Payments Corp of India (NPCI).

It does not need internet connection

"Any citizen without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM-Aadhaar platform, thus realizing Dr Ambedkar's vision of social and financial empowerment for all," the government said in a statement. This means any user with Aadhaar number linked to his bank account can make the payment with this platform.

Makes cashless transactions possible for even those without smartphones

The app makes cashless transactions possible even for those who do not have mobile phones. However, the merchant accepting the payment has to have a mobile phone.

It needs your Aadhaar number to be linked with bank account/accounts

Though users don't need any password or app, it is mandatory for them to have their Aadhaar number linked to their bank account/accounts to make the payment.

Based on APB and AEPS

According to Niti Aayog, Aadhaar Pay uses two platforms — Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB) and Aadhaar-Enabled Payment System (AEPS). APB acts as repository between the banks and customers to provide a smooth flow of transactions, while AEPS helps in authenticating the online process.

For every successful referral, users can earn Rs 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced incentive program for BHIM-Aadhaar digital payment platform for both users and merchants. Users can earn Rs 10. Under the referral bonus scheme, both the existing user who refers BHIM and the new user who adopts BHIM would get a cash bonus credited directly to their account.

Cash incentives for Merchants

Under the cashback scheme, the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction made using the BHIM app.

27 major banks on board

According to government 27 major banks are on board with 3 lakh merchants so that they can start accepting payments using BHIM-Aadhaar.

Hota's push for higher incentives for Bhim users also comes on the back of other payment apps in the country offering cashback incentives aggressively for customer acquisition and repeat transactions. Companies like Paytm and PhonePe, which are backed by global investors, have relied on these discounts to lure users onto their platforms. Currently, if a person refers Bhim to another, she will get Rs 10 as a bonus and the person referred to will get Rs 25 as cashback. TOI reported last month that banks may cut UPI charges for merchants in a move aimed at propping up the number of transactions made through UPI. After demonetisation, the government had allocated over Rs 450 crore for cashback incentives to be used for a period of six months starting April 14, which was B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary. The payments app recently crossed a user base of 16 million with 4 million active customers at the end of June.

BHIM app achieves another milestone

National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) today said its Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) App has crossed 16 million downloads and 4 million active customer base and a new updated version would be launched soon.

"We are also in the final stages of launching version 1.4 of Bhim, which will make transactions smoother on the app. Among other updates, Bharat quick response (QR) code will be integrated into the app which should be another booster for increasing transactions on Bhim," Hota said. Bharat QR enables shops to accept electronic payments from cards or UPI with the customer scanning the QR. Since demonetisation, the government has been actively pushing digital payments.

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